The world of Tzu Chi January 2020 (Vol.118)

2020 • 01 22 eature kindness I doubt I could ever fully repay. I wouldn’t have the chance to stand here if it weren’t for Tzu Chi,” declared Razman, who was then serving as a teacher at a secondary school in Telupid in rural Sabah. Biting the bullet “Every time we visited Razman at his home, he always kept his head down and rarely spoke,” recounted volunteer Ng Cin Siang. He first met Razman in 2003 and was struck by the pensive aura surrounding the reticent teenager, whose face seemed perpetually clouded with melancholy. The volunteers reunited with Razman eight years later and were delighted to discover that he had grown into an optimistic, confident adult with a constant smile lighting up his face, respected by all as a teacher. Making the trip from the rickety wooden hut he called home to school daily was a gruelling journey for Razman, who had to traverse mountainous terrain by foot across long distances. He shared the wooden hut with seven other family members in inland Sabah. The family of eight lived on minimal amenities, lacking even water and electricity supply, but such deplorable conditions failed to deter Razman from making his best efforts in his studies; he would lay his books on the floor and revise his lessons by candlelight. After his father walked out on the family, the responsibility of the breadwinner fell squarely on his mother, who made ends meet with her paltry income from offering tailoring services. As the third eldest child in the family, Razman was obligated to fill in the parenting gap left by his father and his two elder siblings who were busy raising families of their own. At a young age, Razman had to shoulder the burden of caring for his younger siblings – including a younger brother who was mentally disabled – while committing to school. Nevertheless, the studious student overcame the odds and managed to maintain an excellent record in both his studies and personal conduct, earning him the adoration of his teachers. In 2003, Razman applied for the Tzu Chi Study Grant with help from his teacher and was successful. He decided to seek employment to support his family after completing his secondary education, but the volunteers advised him to further his studies instead. “I must keep my spirits up even in poverty. The care of Tzu Chi volunteers gave me the courage to pick myself up and move on,” he said. “I remember the volunteers reminding me that earning wages is but a temporary solution to my family’s plight; education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.” Razman eventually progressed to Form 6 at the volunteers’ encouragement. The harshness of life’s trials was inescapable, but Tzu Chi’s assistance offered Razman a respite from the pressure. “There is no excuse for slacking when the volunteers take the effort to show concern for my studies,” he affirmed. He is thankful